A third of the world’s adult population is physically inactive, the couch-potato lifestyle is killing around 5 million people each year, experts contributing to a special feature in the medical journal The Lancet say.

“Roughly three of every 10 individuals aged 15 years or older – about 1.5 billion people – do not reach present physical activity recommendations,” Dr Pedro Hallal and colleagues said in a report that described the problem as a pandemic.

Inactivity was described for the study as failing to do 30 minutes of moderate physical activity five times a week, 20 minutes of vigorous activity three times a week, or a combination of the two :: Read the full article »»»»

A team of UK scientists have cleverly used sound waves to levitate tiny objects, the breakthrough, published in Nature Communications, could lead to applications as out-there as Star Trek style tractor beams :: Read the full article »»»»

According to a new report by the World Health Organisation, Bacon is BAD! More accurately, the study says that processed meats like hot dogs, sausages and bacon can cause colon cancer and red meat is also a likely cause of the disease, World Health Organisation experts say, in a potentially heavy blow for the global meat industry.

The analysis of 800 studies from around the world by the International Agency for Research on Cancer – IARC – found “sufficient evidence in humans that the consumption of processed meat causes colorectal cancer”.

“Each 50-gram portion of processed meat eaten daily increases the risk of colorectal cancer by 18 per cent,” it said in a statement.

The category includes meat that has been salted, cured, fermented or smoked, hot dogs, sausages, corned beef, dried meat like beef jerky or South African biltong, canned meat or meat-based sauces.

The finding supports “recommendations to limit intake of meat” particularly in processed forms, the IARC said :: Read the full article »»»»

Australia’s Government has announced it will legalise the growing of cannabis for medicinal purposes.

Health Minister Sussan Ley says the Government wants to give people suffering from debilitating illnesses access to all of the most effective medical treatments, including medical cannabis.

The minister said she had been moved by stories of people who get relief from the currently restricted drug, sometimes legally imported but not always. However, Ms Ley said the legalisation was only about medicinal cannabis, not recreational use.

“This is not a debate about legalisation of cannabis. This is not about illicit drugs. This is not a product you smoke. This has nothing to do with that,” Ms Ley said. “Most commonly the product is an oil or a tincture that you put on your skin.”

A progressive government in Victoria looks to have that state as the nation’s first onboard, the state Government plans to embark on a cannabis cultivation trial, based on the recommendations of a report by the Victorian Law Reform Commission :: Read the full article »»»»

25 years ago, in 1990, maternal and child malnutrition, unsafe drinking water and sanitation were the leading risks for death. Today, unsurprisingly, poor diet has overtaken third world problems as the biggest contributor to early death around the world.

According to new analysis from the leading authority on global disease diet is the second highest (clearly aside from age) killer.

Smoking cigarettes still carries the highest risk factor of premature death, followed by high blood pressure and obesity.

However, the Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation – IMHE – says that a combination of dietary factors, from eating too few fruits and vegetables, nuts, and whole grains to too much sodium and cholesterol, is taking a toll on health across the globe.

The IMHE’s study found that the largest contributor to early death globally is high blood pressure, in which age and family history partly play a roll, but so do obesity, smoking, excessive salt consumption, lack of exercise, and drinking large amounts of alcohol.

Noteworthy, alcohol is also one of the top 10 risk factors associated with the highest number of deaths for both men and women.

The study looked at 14 dietary risk factors. Cumulatively, unhealthy eating, including diets low in fruit, whole grains, and vegetables, and diets high in red meat and sugar-sweetened beverages contributed to more deaths than any other factor, causing ischemic heart disease, stroke and diabetes :: Read the full article »»»»